Indonesian Gold (43 page)

Unfortunately, Angela's apparent indifference towards men
did, however, produce a negative effect, with whispers suggesting that her preferences lay
elsewhere being aggressively promoted, by a steady string of rejected suitors behind her back.
Relieved by the rumors, the Minister's wife and her peers were no longer threatened by Angela's
natural beauty and their husbands' exposure to her presence, frequently inviting her to their
functions to adorn their expensive nests. Such was the atmosphere the evening before, when she
had inadvertently become witness to yet another, Palace-sponsored conspiracy, one which would not
only damage the country's international image as a safe investment destination, but would also
destroy the natural habitat of thousands of species and displace Dayaks from traditional
lands.

Angela felt dispirited, desperate at this time for
Campbell to be her friend. If there were any possibility that they might progress forward from
there, it would be necessary for him to demonstrate now, that he supported her, unequivocally.
‘One day, when there are not so many issues clouding our horizons, Stewart, I will explain. I
can't right now, it's too complicated. Please don't assume that because I came from an isolated,
village community that my people are simple, or that decisions we make are based on clear-cut
issues of what might be right or wrong, good or bad, or even black and white. I was raised to
consider consensus. I believe in ancestor worship, the spiritual and natural worlds, and
reincarnation. I am dedicated to serving my people. On the other hand, you come from a world that
scorns cultures such as mine, without any understanding of our beliefs, all too ready to
compartmentalize ethnic minorities as primitive tribal groups that require Westernizing. My
people have occupied Kalimantan as far back as time itself, and as we speak, their holy sites are
being desecrated, their lands confiscated and their forests destroyed. As for your precious
goldmines, to be totally honest, I don't really care too much one way or the other who owns the
gold mines, or enjoys the benefits.These are material things.What I do see, however, is an
opportunity to prevent a major catastrophe for the Dayak people. If by exposing the Palace's move
to monopolize the production of gold I can somehow take advantage of the international press and
world opinion, to demonstrate what ecological damage is planned for our forests, then I would be
satisfied with that.You know as well as I, Stewart, my voice would carry no weight – but yours
would get their attention.'
Angela could feel her voice breaking, struggling desperately so
as not to lose control. ‘
Yes, I was wrong not to return your calls; perhaps I could have
handled that better. Yes, I came here today to seek your help, and yes, I counted on your
interest in me to gain your support. If you consider me a poorer person for doing so, then you
would not be the only one to leave here, today, disappointed.'

She hesitated, willing tears not to flow, relying now on
tenagadalam,
her inner strength to carry her through. Angela bowed her head slightly,
forcing images of tranquil forest scenes to mind – instead, the concerned face of her father
flashed by. Angela took those seconds to regain her composure, angered now with the realization
that her hands were shaking, so she clenched these tightly, out of sight, buried in her lap. With
unmoving lips, Angela's silent chant summoned her inner strength, the words uttered in her mind,
immediately self-comforting.

Deep in the Kalimantan forests some two thousand
kilometers to the north and across the wide Java Sea, as if by some given signal a black hornbill
was shaken from its daytime reverie, its familiar caw striking concern in Jonathan Dau's heart as
bird took to the air, flying over the isolated,
Penehing
village.

****

Captivated by the determination in Angela's voice,
Campbell remained silent from the moment she commenced speaking, and through the void that
followed. The gentle movement of delicate, ceiling-to-floor lace curtains which, until then, had
hung unobserved in monotonous serenity filtering outside views, caught his attention as these
suddenly danced, caressed by an invisible suggestion of wind. The immediate surrounds became
suffocatingly still, his throat felt dry and, as blood flowed from his face, he started to faint.
Startled, Campbell fought rising panic, the subsequent rush of air and beating wings that
accompanied the spell, strangely familiar. He turned from the table and, with head between knees,
inhaled deeply.

‘Are you alright, Stewart?'
With Angela's concern registering, he blinked, breathed deeply again, then rubbed his
face vigorously.
‘Not enough sleep,'
he explained, his hands trembling as he reached for a
pitcher of water.

‘Perhaps we should go?'

Campbell
remained short of
breath. Then, as circulation was restored and oxygen filled his lungs, he regained his composure.
‘I think perhaps we should,'
he hoisted a weak smile, the sensation of
déjà vu
clouding his mind, his hand unconsciously moving to the minutest of scars, running the length of
his back.

* * * *

Chapter Sixteen

January 1996
Jakarta

The aroma of freshly brewed
Robusta
coffee greeted
Stewart Campbell as he entered Angela's shared accommodations, her flat-mate away for the day,
visiting friends. Framed photographs adorned a reproduction Raffles teak sideboard table against
one wall, Campbell's attention drawn to a head-and-shoulders portrait of Angela's father,
recalling how she had talked for hours about the Dayak chief during his previous visit. In the
months following the
Betawi Ball
, Stewart had met with Angela Dau frequently, although
none of these occasions could truly be called a date. They had become friends; Campbell aware
that Angela was not ready to move their relationship forward, an expectation he personally
harbored.

Nothing had eventuated with respect to Angela's conspiracy
theory, Campbell then doubting that what she claimed to have overheard amounted to anything more
than posturing by those present. He knew that to suggest so would surely damage their burgeoning
relationship, irreparably; but, as time had passed without any indication by the Ministry of
Mines that contracts would be renegotiated, he found it increasingly difficult not to question
the veracity of what she had said. Now, it would seem, the advancing activities of foreign mining
companies had arrived at her own community's doorstep, the intrusion, from what he could glean,
threatening to embroil the
Penehing Dayaks
and Central Government, in bloody
confrontation. Angela had insisted that the mining activities in Longdamai were related to her
conspiracy claims, pointing to the deliberate desecration of her people's ancestral, spiritual
site. Although he was not of the same mind, concerned that she had lost her objectivity when it
came to Dayak affairs, he had, nevertheless, agreed to approach the mining company concerned,
which he learned shared offices with P.T. Subroto & Associates in CBD Jakarta.

Campbell
was aware that the
Borneo Gold Corporation had been granted concessions in the Mahakam area through its Indonesian
operating arm. Operating anywhere in the archipelago required the formation of a legal,
Indonesian corporate entity. He was pleased that most foreign firms managed to retain some of
their original identification when choosing local company names, if for nothing else but to avoid
confusion in the market place. His interest in the Canadian miner had grown with the recent
announcements regarding restructure, and the appearance of a dominant shareholder, Dominion
Mining. He had become suspicious when investigations into that company's ownership had ended in
the British Virgin Islands, disappointed when Alexander Kremenchug and Eric Baird's names arose,
repeatedly, whenever he mentioned the Kalimantan prospects to others in his field.

He was also aware that Dominion had established a strong
presence during the past eighteen months with its successful drilling of the Longdamai prospects,
through an Indonesian entity, P.T. Kalimantan Gold. That the Filipino, Sharon Ducay had been in
charge of field operations for the company when it produced results indicating that its Longdamai
prospect could have reserves in excess of two million ounces, in his opinion, only provided
credibility to the find. After their brief and exciting interlude in Singapore some years before,
Stewart had made inquiries regarding the woman's credentials, and was impressed with what he
learned.

‘Have you heard from your father?'
he asked as Angela served the coffee.

‘No, not since earlier in the week; communications are
becoming increasingly difficult for us — I can't even get a permit for a transmitter-receiver
here, at home.'

He was aware that Angela had accessed a radio link from
Bandung during the years she studied there. Until recently, she had been able to utilize the
Samarinda link but, due to the ethnic unrest in the province the facility had been closed to all
but military personnel. He also knew how difficult it would be for a civilian to obtain a direct
radio link permit, with most members of the Indonesian military xenophobic by nature, and the
strict censorship rules imposed upon the media.

‘
What are you going to do?
'

‘I don't know,'
she
answered, despondently.

‘
Can't anyone senior in the Agency
help?
'

‘Well, I spoke to the Secretary General. He phoned both
the Department of Communications and Defence, but they are sitting on the request – and I think
we all know why.'

‘Why not speak to the Minister's wife?'
he suggested.

Angela shook her head and frowned.
‘We're friendly, but
applying pressure to Communications and Defence wouldn't go down too well at this
time.'

‘What are you going to do?'

Angela looked at Campbell calmly and said,
‘There's no
other choice but to ask for some time off, and return home for a few weeks.'

He appeared worried.
‘Is it safe?'

‘It would be, for me,'
she answered, and Campbell wondered if she had meant to be patronizing.

‘Would you like me to go with you?'
The Moslem month of Ramadan had commenced, Campbell hopeful that he would be
out of the capital when the
Hari Raya Idulfitri
celebrations arrived, with the breaking of
the month-long fast.

Angela knew he would offer.
‘No, Stewart. It would be
best to leave it for another time.'

Campbell
glanced at the
chief's photograph, unaware that Angela was suppressing a smile when his expression became
somber.

* * * *

P.T. Kalimantan Gold (Ind.) –
Longdamai Operations

Barely a month had passed since his wedding to Pipi
Suhartono, the demanding three-day long Javanese wedding extravaganza was no sooner at an end,
when Baird announced to his new bride that he was urgently required back in the field. Although
disappointed that their honeymoon was to be postponed, Pipi Baird was not overly concerned, as
Eric swore he would take her to Singapore for an extended holiday, upon his return. For the
Australian geologist, Sharon Ducay's undertaking to guarantee ongoing employment could not have
come at a better time, the earlier BGC restructure now proving to be a godsend as his finances
had again fallen to desperate levels, because of the wedding. Baird had discussed his contract
with his partner and now uncle by marriage, Subroto, who was obviously pleased not only with the
recent union, but his reversal in fortunes with respect to the Canadian mining shares he still
held.

Sharon
had spoken to Baird by
phone from Vancouver, offering him the opportunity to continue working with her as Assistant
Chief Geologist under the restructured BGC arrangements. Baird had agreed, and had no difficulty
in contracting the same expatriate drillers he had originally engaged for the Longdamai site.
After drying out for a couple of days, both Calvin Alderson and Carl Patrick were in reasonable
enough shape to fly back to Samarinda, where they completed the journey to Longdamai aboard the
longboat supply vessel. Baird had sent them ahead to prepare the rigs and other equipment,
following with Mardidi within that week. Baird then reinstated the drilling program, in
anticipation of Sharon Ducay's return, without knowing that this initiative almost destroyed any
chance of her ever achieving her objective.

Well into their second week Baird lost radio
communications when the receiver went down, deciding to take the broken equipment down to
Samarinda and meet Sharon, who was scheduled to arrive at that time. Unfortunately, Baird also
decided to transport the revitalized operation's first batch of drilling samples for analysis,
believing this is what the Chief Geologist would have wanted. Following established procedures,
he split samples, retaining half on site for future crosschecking as Sharon had done and, along
with Mardidi accompanied the remainder down river to the provincial capital. He dispatched the
bags to the laboratory and, while waiting for the radio to be repaired purchased additional
supplies, then visited the Mesra Hotel's business center and booked a call to Canada, to check
when Sharon Ducay would arrive. He spoke to a secretary in BGC's Vancouver office, learning that
they had been trying to contact Baird by radio to advise that Sharon's return had been delayed,
and that she would now return to Indonesia from the Philippines, in another two weeks, at which
time she would recommence the drilling program. Baird failed to mention that he had already
started drilling, and taking samples.